JANUARY 2026 ARTIST: BRIDGET DUFFY
MANHATTAN BEACH CULTURAL ARTS NEWSLETTER
MBAC WILL BE CLOSED FOR INSTALL: DEC 29 T H - JAN 15 T H
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@manhattanbeachartcenter
1560 MANHATTAN BEACH BLVD. MANHATTAN BEACH, CA 90266
(310) 802-5440 | infombac@manhattanbeach.gov GALLERY HOURS WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY | 10AM - 9PM, FRIDAY - SUNDAY | 10AM - 5PM
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WHAT’S COMING UP?
are you seeing what i’m seeing
JANUARY 16 - MARCH 29, 2026 OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 T H 6PM - 8PM CULTURAL ARTS NEWSLETTER 2
ABOUT THE SHOW The Manhattan Beach Art Center (MBAC) is proud to present “Are You Seeing What I’m Seeing?”—an exhibition that investigates the generative relationship between written language and visual expression. Co-curated with Bondo Wyszpolski and Bernard Fallen, the project brings together 35 artists, each creating new work in response to a brief textual prompt drawn from themes including nature, mythology, animals, seascapes, urban environments, and more. For more than three decades, Wyszpolski has chronicled the creative life of the South Bay—most notably through his extensive coverage for the Easy Reader and Peninsula Magazine—cultivating deep relationships with regional artists. Building on this legacy, he crafted and distributed the written prompts, inviting artists to translate his language into visual form. These concise descriptions act as catalysts— akin to stage directions or conceptual cues—sparking interpretation rather than prescribing outcome. At its core, the exhibition explores how artists navigate the movement from text to image: how words can evoke atmosphere, narrative, or emotional resonance, and how individual perception shapes distinct interpretive trajectories. Although all artists begin with similarly structured prompts, the resulting works diverge widely, revealing the multiplicity of visual reasoning that a single phrase can inspire. The process of transformation is intentionally open-ended. The prompts serve not as instructions but as points of departure, allowing room for intuition, experimentation, and conceptual play.
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Artists respond through a range of media, reflecting both the artist’s practice and the internal image or sensation elicited by the text. Taken together, these works form a study in creative heterogeneity, demonstrating how minimal language can generate expansive and unexpected visual possibilities. “Are You Seeing What I’m Seeing?” is on view at the Manhattan Beach Art Center (1560 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, CA) from January 16 through March 29, 2026. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Fei Alexander Tom Balderas Kyle Boone Olena Boswell Patrick Boyd Nicole Carmody Alys Chalmers Marie Colmey Trevor Coopersmith Dan Dempster Bridget Duffy Bernard Fallon
Mark Fenton Deborah Giese Daniel Gonzalez James Harter Judy Herman Carol Hungerford Carolyn Liesy Drica Lobo Larry Manning Jasser Membreno Margaret Mohr Ross Moore
Hung Viet Nguyen Eileen Oda Leaf Janice Schultz Nancy Sewell Kimie Joe Silver Hannah Smoot Bronwyn Towle Virginia Vilchis Karen Wharton Norma Cuevas White Susan Whiting Jody Wiggins
For more information about the participating artists, check out their artist bio’s here CULTURAL ARTS NEWSLETTER 4
WINTER CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
SPOTS ARE STILL OPEN! If you have been thinking about making time for creativity this season, now is a great moment to explore our winter classes and workshops. Whether you are looking to build skills, try a new medium, or enjoy a creative routine, we invite you to browse our classes and register while space is still available.
VIEW ALL CLASSES & WORKSHOPS HERE
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WINTER CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
INTRO ART CLASSES Start your creative journey with our introduction art classes! These beginner-friendly classes build core skills, encourage exploration, and give you the confidence to grow as an artist. INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY #47574
INTRO TO OIL PAINTING #47573
FOUNDATIONS DRAWING #47565
FOUNDATIONS PAINTINGS #47566
ADULT ART JOURNALING #47543
DIGITAL DRAWING #47563
18 and up Feb 8 - Mar 29, 2026 Sun 10AM - 11:30AM
18 and up Jan 23 - Mar 27, 2026 Fri 9AM - 12PM
18 and up Jan 21 - Mar 25, 2026 Wed 11:30AM - 1PM
18 and up Jan 21 - Mar 25, 2026 Wed 6:30PM - 9PM
18 and up Jan 23 - Mar 27, 2026 Fri 12PM - 3PM
18 and up Jan 20 - Mar 24, 2026 Tue 6:30PM - 9PM
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NEW CLASS!
LIVE ANATOMY DRAWING Sharpen your observational skills and deepen your understanding of the human form in this immersive drawing class featuring a live model. Students will explore proportion, gesture, structure, and anatomy through guided exercises and longer poses. Working with charcoal, graphite, and other dry media, participants will learn classical techniques to capture the figure’s energy and accuracy while developing their own expressive style. All skill levels are welcome — from beginners seeking a foundation in figure drawing to experienced artists refining their anatomical understanding. Instruction will balance demonstration, individual feedback, and plenty of drawing time. LIVE ANATOMY DRAWING #47572 18 and up Jan 22 - Mar 26, 2026 Thu 6:30PM - 9PM
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NEW CLASS!
TEEN ZINE MAKING Discover the art of zine making — the original DIY publishing movement! In this hands-on workshop, teens will create their own zines from concept to finished booklet using collage, drawing, design, and print techniques. Inspired by the South Bay’s rich punk and zine history, students will explore self-expression and creativity through words and images. No experience needed — just bring your ideas and a DIY attitude!
TEEN ZINE MAKING #47630 18 and up Jan 25 - Mar 15, 2026 Sun 3PM - 4:30PM
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YOUTH CLASSES ART LAB #47547 Ages 5 - 9 Jan 21 - Mar 11, 2026 Wed 3:30PM - 5PM
BASICS IN PENCIL DRAWING #47548 Ages 7 - 13 Jan 22 - Mar 12, 2026 Thurs 4PM - 5:30PM
ART ADVENTURES: LITTLE MASTERS #47590 Ages 7 - 13 Jan 23 - Mar 13, 2026 Fri 4PM - 5:30PM
KIDS CLAY INTENSIVE SPRING BREAK CAMP #47623 Ages 7 - 13 Apr 6 - Apr 9, 2026 Mon - Thurs 9AM - 12PM
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WINTER CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
IKEBANA : JAPANESE FLORAL ARRANGMENT In this two-part workshop, students will learn the basic principles, history, and significance of Ikebana and then enjoy creating their own Ikebana-inspired arrangements implementing these theories and techniques. In Part 1 of this workshop, you'll design and sculpt a ceramic floral frog (a reusable alternative to the traditional kenzan), which will serve as the foundation for your Ikebana arrangement in Part 2. IKEBANA WORKSHOP -CERAMIC FLORAL FROG #47569 16 and up Saturday, January 24th 2026 10AM - 1PM
IKEBANA WORKSHOP – PART 2 FLORAL ARRANGEMENT #47570 16 and up Saturday, January 31st 2026 10AM - 1PM
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JOIN US AT MBAC FOR
GLAZE LAB
Explore the world of ceramics at the Manhattan Beach Art Center. Participants will choose a ceramic object to glaze from our curated selection of mugs, cups, bowls, figurines, and more! Children will be guided through the process of glazing by our Recreation Staff and learn about the ceramic's process.
MORE INFO HOURS 4PM - 8PM WED 4PM - 8PM THURS SAT 10AM - 4PM 10AM - 4PM SUN
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C U L T U R A L
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MBAC 10AM - 5PM 17
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6PM - 8PM Opening Reception: Are You Seeing What I’m Seeing? MBAC 10AM - 5PM
MBAC 10AM - 5PM
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10AM Intro to Photography 3PM Teen Zine Making
MBAC CLOSED
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MBAC CLOSED
MBAC 10AM - 9PM 21
MBAC 10AM - 9PM
6:30PM Digital Drawing (Heights)
11:30AM Adult Art Journaling 3:30PM Art Lab 6:30PM Intro to Oil Painting
MBAC CLOSED
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6:30PM Digital Drawing (Heights)
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MBAC 10AM - 5PM 23
MBAC 10AM - 5PM 24
4PM Basics in Pencil Drawing 6:30PM Live Anatomy Drawing
9AM Found Draw 12PM Found Paint 4PM Art Adventures: Little Masters
10AM Ikebana Workshop Part 1
MBAC 10AM - 9PM 28
MBAC 10AM - 9PM
MBAC 10AM - 5PM 30
MBAC 10AM - 5PM
11:30AM Adult Art Journaling 3:30PM Art Lab 6:30PM Intro to Oil Painting
4PM Basics in Pencil Drawing 6:30PM Live Anatomy Drawing
9AM Found Draw 12PM Found Paint 4PM Art Adventures: Little Masters
10AM Ikebana Workshop Part 2
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